2026 Mississauga Election Candidate Profile: Ward 5 - Natalie Hart
/With the upcoming 2026 Municipal elections happening on Monday, October 26th, Modern Mississauga Media has reached out to all candidates inviting them to answer the same questions so voters can familiarize themselves with them.
With the 2022 Mississauga election having a paltry 21.84% voter turnout, this series is to educate the community and hopefully increase voter turnout for 2026.
Low voter turnout means that the voices of a few make decisions for all.
Candidate’s were also asked to provide at least four images and their answers are unedited.
Click here to read all candidate profiles and check back often as responses will be posted within 72 hours of receipt.
Click here to learn how to vote in the 2026 Mississauga Election.
1. Why are you running for Ward 5 councillor?
I am running for re-election as Ward 5 Councillor to build on our shared progress. Since June 2024, we delivered Ward 5’s first new police station in over 20 years and launched the exclusive to Ward 5 "Be a Good Neighbour" safety and property standards pilot. I also introduced popular local events, including summer ice cream socials, movie nights, winter skating days, and regular town halls on safety and the city budget. But there is still much more to do, and I want to keep building on the momentum we’ve built together.
2. What makes you stand out over other candidates?
I’ve been doing the work for the people of Ward 5 since I was elected in the byelection and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished together in two years. But for my entire professional career, I’ve been focused on helping businesses grow and thrive. I worked for major banks across Ontario in roles focused on helping entrepreneurs and small business owners overcome challenges, succeed, and provide good jobs for the community. I also served for several years as executive director of the Malton Business Improvement Association, and this experience has helped me better understand the challenges local businesses are facing. Additionally, I believe in the importance of showing up. I don’t only knock on doors at election time. Whether through regular door knocking or community events, I keep in touch with Ward 5 residents at all times to ensure I’m bringing their voice to council.
3. What are your key campaign priorities?
Regulate rooming houses so we can take stronger action against bad actors
Continue revitalizing neighbourpark parks and facilities alongside bigger projects
Focus on safety, including improving street lighting, growing Neighbourhood Watch, and working with our police partners to reduce crime
4. What budget item is the most important for Mississauga?
The Peel Police budget is the biggest driver of costs (and property taxes) for the city. Unfortunately, the provincially-mandated funding formula leaves Mississauga footing the bill for much of Brampton, despite their population now exceeding ours. I want to see a united Team Mississauga fighting for fairness and respect for our taxpayers.
5. What are your three favourite aspects of Mississauga?
I’m so proud of the new replica Avro Arrow in Paul Coffey Park, which I helped get off the ground when working for the BIA. We have so many great festival and events, and I’ve always loved helping to organize the Canada Day party at Westwood Mall. And we have such an amazing and diverse food scene, from Al Samosas to Royal Jasmine for amazing Hakka. And it was great fun to help open our new local Shelby’s location – just don’t ask for ketchup!
6. How will you be actively supporting our locally owned businesses if elected?
I worked in small business banking for years and I was executive director of the Malton BIA – I know the importance of our locally-owned businesses and why we need to support them. Ward 5 businesses generate about 25% of the city's tax base. And we know that many of them are facing difficult conversations following the escalation in the trade war by the United States. My office works with individual business owners hands-on to help speed up zoning and other administrative issues, and the city's tariff response strategy is focused on helping businesses diversify their markets and navigate financial support programs from various levels of government.
7. What does Mississauga currently excel at?
I was proud to support enhanced snow clearing services in the first budget that I voted on as councillor, and the feedback from residents on that initiative has been fantastic. And of course, I am always inspired by our diverse faith and cultural groups, and the wide number of festivals and activities that we get to enjoy thanks to many of those groups. And while I know every city, including Mississauga, has challenges, I would argue that there's nowhere else I would rather live!
8. How would you communicate with residents and what communication standards will you be setting and following?
I'm proud of the new types of community engagement we have brought to Ward 5 in just two years. Feedback has been consistently excellent on our neighbourhood-level events, which let people meet their neighbours and me in smaller settings with a couple hundred people rather than the usual political barbeques with thousands of people.
I am also proud to have hosted issue-specific town halls all across Ward 5, on topics ranging from community safety, the city budget and neighbourhood-specific development projects.
Every day we build our email list so we can reach residents quickly on issues that are relevant to them and the specific community they live in.
I also hosted a tele-town hall on public safety, and I look forward to expanding those initiatives in my next term to better reach even more residents.
Of course, all of the above is on top of the newsletters that both the city and region support me in sending to all residents.
9. How do you plan to actively involve and include residents in decisions?
I would point to the examples in the answer above of how I engage with residents in a more hands-on way than may have previously happened in Ward 5. But there's no question that there is always more to do when it comes to helping people have a say in the future of their community - I will do even more town halls, host local 'constituency office days' in the different neighbourhoods, and push for more accessible council meetings when key Ward 5 items are on the agenda.
10. Please provide your campaign website.
